Ocular Involvement in Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia Children

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Hematology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Thalassemia is a common inherited blood disorder requiring regular blood transfusions.
• Repeated transfusions lead to iron overload, a systemic complication affecting multiple organs, including the eyes.
• Ocular complications in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients are a significant concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and types of ocular involvements in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia.
• To assess the relationship between ocular manifestations and disease duration and serum ferritin levels in these children.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study involving 46 children (aged 3-18 years) with TDT.
• Comprehensive ophthalmological examinations were performed, including visual acuity, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and funduscopy.
• Statistical analysis utilized Student's t-test and chi-square test (p<0.05 considered significant).

Main Results:

• Ocular involvements were detected in 41.3% of the children studied.
• Common manifestations included decreased visual acuity (36.95%), corneal dryness (15.21%), lens opacity (13.04%), and optic disc atrophy (15.21%).
• Higher serum ferritin levels and longer disease duration showed a significant positive correlation with ocular involvement (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Transfusion-dependent thalassemia in children is associated with a high prevalence of ocular complications.
• Serum ferritin levels and disease duration are critical risk factors for developing these eye issues.
• Regular ophthalmic screening is essential for early detection and management of ocular changes in TDT children.